Transportation
The Pentagon’s Top Rocket Launcher Is Behind Profit Goals and Losing Staff
- ULA is losing key engineers, shuttling workers between sites
- Boeing and Lockheed venture is ceding market share to SpaceX
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For over a decade, United Launch Alliance had an absolute monopoly. If the Pentagon wanted to send a spy satellite to space, the Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. venture was its only choice.
Now, Elon Musk’s well-funded SpaceX has eaten into its business, capturing 40% of Pentagon contracts over the last few years. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin threatens to take more of the pie once it certifies its New Glenn rocket.